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U.S. Packaging Industry Analysis

UpdatedApr 03, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies26
  • 7D-0.9%
  • 3M-3.5%
  • 1Y-6.8%
  • YTD-3.5%

The Packaging industry has been flat over the last week, but Packaging Corporation of America has lost 3.8%. As for the longer term, the industry has declined 6.8% in the last year. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 19% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.S. Packaging Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Fri, 03 Apr 2026US$152.9bUS$162.2bUS$3.8b18.9x40.2x0.9x
Sun, 01 Mar 2026US$174.9bUS$162.5bUS$3.7b22x47.3x1.1x
Tue, 27 Jan 2026US$165.3bUS$159.8bUS$5.7b21.9x29.2x1x
Thu, 25 Dec 2025US$154.0bUS$159.8bUS$5.7b20.5x27.3x1x
Sat, 22 Nov 2025US$143.3bUS$159.8bUS$5.7b19.4x25.3x0.9x
Mon, 20 Oct 2025US$155.8bUS$154.2bUS$5.0b21x31x1x
Wed, 17 Sep 2025US$162.6bUS$154.2bUS$5.0b21.9x32.3x1.1x
Fri, 15 Aug 2025US$169.3bUS$154.3bUS$5.1b22.1x33x1.1x
Sun, 13 Jul 2025US$175.8bUS$144.3bUS$6.0b27.4x29.3x1.2x
Tue, 10 Jun 2025US$165.6bUS$144.4bUS$6.0b26.1x27.6x1.1x
Thu, 08 May 2025US$149.8bUS$144.3bUS$6.0b20.1x24.9x1x
Sat, 05 Apr 2025US$162.8bUS$149.9bUS$6.3b21.6x25.8x1.1x
Mon, 03 Mar 2025US$181.8bUS$155.0bUS$6.2b24.3x29.4x1.2x
Wed, 29 Jan 2025US$180.7bUS$153.4bUS$5.9b22.6x30.4x1.2x
Fri, 27 Dec 2024US$175.3bUS$153.4bUS$5.9b22.4x29.5x1.1x
Sun, 24 Nov 2024US$187.7bUS$153.3bUS$5.9b24.3x31.6x1.2x
Tue, 22 Oct 2024US$179.0bUS$148.6bUS$6.7b27.4x26.8x1.2x
Thu, 19 Sep 2024US$178.1bUS$148.6bUS$7.0b26.1x25.4x1.2x
Sat, 17 Aug 2024US$168.3bUS$148.4bUS$7.0b22.2x24x1.1x
Mon, 15 Jul 2024US$166.6bUS$149.6bUS$6.6b20.7x25.3x1.1x
Wed, 12 Jun 2024US$158.8bUS$156.8bUS$6.1b22.5x26.2x1x
Fri, 10 May 2024US$159.3bUS$156.9bUS$6.2b22.4x25.7x1x
Sun, 07 Apr 2024US$155.2bUS$159.1bUS$4.4b18.6x35x1x
Tue, 05 Mar 2024US$149.8bUS$159.1bUS$4.4b17.4x33.8x0.9x
Thu, 01 Feb 2024US$142.1bUS$155.8bUS$5.4b15.3x26.4x0.9x
Sat, 30 Dec 2023US$142.4bUS$155.9bUS$5.4b15.5x26.4x0.9x
Mon, 27 Nov 2023US$133.2bUS$156.1bUS$5.4b14.6x24.5x0.9x
Wed, 25 Oct 2023US$119.9bUS$159.5bUS$7.0b11.9x17x0.8x
Fri, 22 Sep 2023US$130.4bUS$159.5bUS$7.0b13.1x18.5x0.8x
Sun, 20 Aug 2023US$131.7bUS$159.8bUS$7.1b13.8x18.6x0.8x
Tue, 18 Jul 2023US$134.3bUS$168.2bUS$7.9b12.8x17x0.8x
Thu, 15 Jun 2023US$132.3bUS$168.2bUS$7.9b12.8x16.7x0.8x
Sat, 13 May 2023US$132.4bUS$168.5bUS$8.0b13x16.6x0.8x
Mon, 10 Apr 2023US$136.2bUS$170.0bUS$10.8b12.5x12.6x0.8x
Price to Earnings Ratio

12.6x


Total Market Cap: US$136.2bTotal Earnings: US$10.8bTotal Revenue: US$170.0bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Packaging Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 27x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the American Packaging industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 40.2x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 27.0x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 1.0x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Packaging industry have declined 29% per year over the last three years.
  • Meanwhile revenues have remained mostly flat.
  • This means that although sales have remained flat, either the cost of doing business or the level of investment back into businesses has increased, which has decreased profits.

Industry Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the U.S. Materials industry?

US Market1.90%
Materials4.91%
Packaging-0.87%
Metal and Glass Containers0.68%
Paper Packaging-1.54%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Paper Packaging industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 34.2x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 23.6%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 2.4% per year.
  • Investors are most pessimistic about the Metal and Glass Containers industry, which is trading below its 3-year average of 22.3x.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Paper Packaging industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 24% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 2.4% per year.
  • In contrast, the Metal and Glass Containers industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 9.5% per year over the next few years.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
AVY Avery DennisonUS$171.471.8%
+US$226.9m		-2.8%PE19.2x
SON Sonoco ProductsUS$54.842.4%
+US$126.3m		19.3%PE9.2x
CCK Crown HoldingsUS$102.761.1%
+US$118.8m		15.8%PE15.5x
GPK Graphic Packaging HoldingUS$9.683.6%
+US$100.6m		-63.0%PE6.4x
BALL BallUS$59.970.6%
+US$87.8m		18.8%PE17.5x

Latest News

PKG
US$204.46
Packaging Corporation of America
7D
-3.8%
1Y
8.1%
SLGN
US$39.48
Silgan Holdings
7D
1.8%
1Y
-20.4%

Silgan Holdings: Strong Cash Flows Will Reduce Net Debt Fast

Apr 02
OI
US$10.35
O-I Glass
7D
-1.6%
1Y
-7.7%
CCK
US$102.76
Crown Holdings
7D
1.1%
1Y
15.8%
SW
US$39.29
Smurfit Westrock
7D
-2.8%
1Y
-8.0%

SW: Mill Closures And Higher Future P/E Will Support Upside Potential

Analysts now see Smurfit Westrock's fair value at about $67.91 per share, compared with roughly $66.89 previously, reflecting updated views on the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E assumptions. What's in the News Smurfit Westrock plans to permanently close one of the paper machines at its La Tuque, Quebec, mill, which has an annual capacity of 127,000 tons of solid bleached sulfate, as part of efforts to address scale and cost challenges and support the long term competitiveness of its paperboard operations (Key Developments).
GPK
US$9.68
Graphic Packaging Holding
7D
3.6%
1Y
-63.0%
AVY
US$171.47
Avery Dennison
7D
1.8%
1Y
-2.8%
ORBS
US$0.91
Eightco Holdings
7D
-21.2%
1Y
-19.1%
BALL
US$59.97
Ball
7D
0.6%
1Y
18.8%

BALL: 2026 EPS Guidance And Buybacks Will Drive Upside Potential

Analysts have slightly adjusted their view on Ball, with the average price target moving closer to $70.25 as a series of recent target changes, including multiple upward revisions and one reduction, inform updated assumptions on growth, margins, discount rate and future P/E. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Ball clusters around a series of price target changes and rating moves, giving you a clearer sense of how the Street is thinking about execution, growth and valuation risk.
PACK
US$3.58
Ranpak Holdings
7D
-2.7%
1Y
-18.1%
IP
US$34.79
International Paper
7D
-3.8%
1Y
-29.3%

IP: European Containerboard Price Increases Will Support Turnaround Execution

The updated analyst price target for International Paper edges down by $0.40 to $46.47, as analysts balance recent conflicting signals in containerboard pricing with supportive commentary around European price increases and ongoing research coverage across the sector. Analyst Commentary Recent research on International Paper highlights a mixed picture, with bullish analysts pointing to supportive price actions in Europe and ongoing coverage, while more cautious voices focus on near term pricing pressure in U.S. containerboard and execution risks around the company’s transformation efforts.
AMBP
US$4.09
Ardagh Metal Packaging
7D
-1.4%
1Y
35.9%

AMBP: Rising Packaging Demand Should Support Upside Despite Leverage Risk

Analyst price targets for Ardagh Metal Packaging have moved higher to a range of about $4.75 to $6, as analysts cite slightly stronger revenue growth and profit margin assumptions, along with a modestly lower future P/E multiple in their updated models. Analyst Commentary Recent research shows a split view on Ardagh Metal Packaging, with several bullish analysts nudging price targets higher while one bearish analyst trims expectations.
AMCR
US$39.93
Amcor
7D
0.2%
1Y
-16.6%

AMCR: Future Returns Will Depend On Berry Integration Synergies After Reverse Split

Amcor's updated analyst price target has moved slightly lower to $52.54 from $53.49, as analysts factor in a modestly higher discount rate and slightly softer margin and P/E assumptions following a mix of recent upgrades, downgrades and revised target prices. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Amcor points to a mixed but useful set of signals for you as an investor, with analysts split between constructive views on earnings potential and caution around valuation, volume trends and integration risk.
SON
US$54.84
Sonoco Products
7D
2.4%
1Y
19.3%

SON: Renewable Power Agreement And 2026 Outlook Will Support Future Cash Flows

Analysts have trimmed their price target on Sonoco Products slightly to about $64.38 from $64.75, pointing to small adjustments in their fair value, discount rate, growth, margin and future P/E assumptions. What's in the News The company completed a share repurchase of 3,286,255 shares, representing about 3.3% of the company, for $212.03 million under the buyback program announced on April 21, 2021 (Key Developments).
GEF
US$66.96
Greif
7D
0.4%
1Y
25.0%

GEF: Containerboard Sale Proceeds Will Support Future Capital Returns And Margin Resilience

Narrative Update on Greif Analyst price targets for Greif have moved higher, with recent increases of $6 at BofA, $15 at Baird, and $8 at Truist, reflecting analyst expectations tied to disciplined supply management in containerboard and steady beverage can volume trends in North America and Europe. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Greif points to a more constructive tone, with several bullish analysts lifting price targets as they reassess the company after the sale of its containerboard business and review end market trends.
TRS
US$35.68
TriMas
7D
-2.6%
1Y
59.6%